There was also a builder who ripped off my good departed friend Leonard
Giovannoli. Len took them to court and got a judgment in his favor, but
I'm not certain of a cash settlement. I think it was a Bennett
Locomotive works from someplace in the East (not our departed friend
Jess Bennett in Idaho). I recall seeing small ads in the Herald back in
the late 60's and their list of products pretty much followed the SSL&S
kits.
I've never heard of anyone else (good or bad) who dealt with that company.
I will mention, that I've had two customers order my custom made trees
by mail. One approached me at last week's train show and shook my hand
thanking me for the good product and service. We debated whether to
sell via mail order because of the nature of scenery items and the
potential damage. And like the custom brass builders of the past, we've
discovered that the few dollars received after expenses really isn't
worth it in the long run. So who knows I'll probably read about myself
ripping somebody off for $36.00 worth of trees (2012 dollars) and living
the good life in the Caribbean! LOL
Bob Werre (aka that little old tree man quietly making trees from hemp
and smoking none of it!)
PhotoTraxx
Dear Bob,
Boy, I have not thought of George for years. If I remember
correctly, he was in construction and our country was in a lull at the
time. I jumped on that bandwagon quickly and got a brass CNJ Mike
with a custom long distance tender. Once my engine arrived I showed
it to everyone. And, I mean everyone is S that I knew. He got lots
of orders. I think my order, yours and one for Josh Seltzer were the
only one delivered. As the building boom returned, he quit making
engines. I felt like a real shill over that one...
Don
On Feb 24, 2012, at 10:53 AM, Bob Werre wrote:
Jim and all,
The Hill Country Train Shop was before my returning to railroading
and Texas, but the local group visited him at some open house he
held. Apparently he held some lofty plans. I understand he was
going to use high school kids as part of some training program.
My bad experience was with Mid America Scale models run by a George
Sills, I think. He published a catalogue of engines most using SSL&S
parts. Because of past experiences you would send your money to
Claude Wade at SSL&S. He would then send the kit to be built to
George. When the engine was finished he then would receive the money
from Claude. I started out dealing that way and after several months
was told the engine had been shipped--would I release the money
($310.)--so I did. No engine--he said "it must be lost in the mail,
so I'll build another"--sure! However, many months later it did
arrive and I can say it was state of the art at that time appearance
wise--mechanically--not so much!
Anyway we were able to make mechanical improvements to where it ran
nicely. At that point three of us bellied up to the bar and ordered
another round. We sent the money directly to George and the world
went quiet. I think all this happened about 1979 or 80.
Of course, in all reality having an engine custom made with all the
filing, fitting and tuning for about $100 in labor just didn't make
sense after the first one. But just like zillions of internet scams,
hope does spring eternal! At least I received a nice engine, just
had to pay twice the money in the end.
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
Anyone remember Melvin Frankel, YUK, who ran a scam in the early
70's--supposedly tried it in O-scale also. He advertised all sorts
of steam engines but it was obviously no way he could do anything.
Bernie Thomas was instrumental in handling recovery actions. DJE
----- Original Message -----
*From:* raisinone <mailto:[email protected]>
*To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Thursday, February 23, 2012 9:23 PM
*Subject:* Re: {S-Scale List} Status of Kaslo Budd Passenger car
kits
Ever hear of Hill Country Train Shop, New Braunfels, TX? That
one cost me $300 in 1976 dollars! At least that debacle made the
pages of MR! I think Jan Lorenzen (Locomotive Workshop) went to
the bankruptcy auction to buy nickel silver bar stock...
You're right George - there is a real feeling of family with the
charlatans' of our past!! <G>
Jim
--- In [email protected]
<mailto:S-Scale%40yahoogroups.com>, "gsc3" <gsc3@...> wrote:
>
> One good thing about these kind of posts is I don't feel
alone. (8-)
>
> George Courtne
>
> --- In [email protected]
<mailto:S-Scale%40yahoogroups.com>, "John" <armstong5717@> wrote:
> >
> > Where is my $865.00 that Omnicon still owes me for a Pennsy J. ?
> > Heard they skipped to Mexico!
> > John Armstrong
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Alex Binkley
> > To: [email protected] <mailto:S-Scale%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 4:43 PM
> > Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Status of Kaslo Budd Passenger
car kits
> >
> >
> >
> > 
> >
> > Good point John, but thinking about things like that just
speeds up insanity. I've made worse investments.
> > cheers
> >
